Job Interview

I've been back for exactly 2 weeks now and this past week I've had a few interviews for physio assistant positions. There's been a few offers sent my way and there's one in particular that I'm very interested in. It's a private clinic that works with 95% neuro clients. Neuro may or may not be something that I will do long term but it's definitely one field that is the most challenging. My plan was to get into neuro initially so that I don't forget my hands-on skills so this clinic is perfect. The people there are also quite chilled and relax, somewhat like myself.

One of the partners is a quadriplegic and he is a very up front person. He will ask and say whatever comes in his mind. I like that because he was very honest with me. He said that if he say me on the street, he would not guess that I was a physio. Initially I was quite offended by that comment because I actually think I look the part. He said that I looked like a student because I look young. He then told me that his first impression of me was that I was very confident, relaxed and casual person. All of which I am....

He then went on and told me what his concern of me was. He was concerned about how some clients would react to me because I was young and attractive. That was his only concern. What the heck was my initial thought. Well I can't exactly change that now can I??? Being a quadriplegic himself I guess he could relate to the clients and how it they would feel because we do get physically close to the clients. Let me explain why he's so concern about the clients' comfort level:

There's this main machine that will be the focal point, if you will, of the clinic. It's called the locomat and it is the most amazing machine I've ever seen. Check it out: http://www.hocoma.ch/

It was created by the swedish and the first one available to the public in Canada. There are only 2 other machines in Canada and those are only used in research but even then, very seldomly. It's basically a robotic treadmill machine that helps clients go through the normal walking pattern. The client is harnessed up in the air and then these robotic legs are attached onto them. Then the robotic legs will start moving once the treadmill is moving. This enables physios the retrain the brain what normal walking is like again. This very machine has the potential to accelerate recovery in head trauma injuries, stroke patients, etc... They say that after a stroke, we have about 6 months to get as much gain back as possible and then the improvements slow right down. The goal is to retrain normal functional movements until we feel as though gains have plateaued. That's when aids will be considered.

One very realistic issue for clients is that they may not be able to control their bladder or sexual arousal while using this machine. It's not a big deal because when you're dealing with neuro patients they usually can't control it to begin with, let alone when they are harnessed up where there is constant pressure on the bladder. Everyone would get the same sensation of having to go to except we have control of our bladders. Anyways so his main concern was that clients may not feel comfortable because I look young and what not. Education and building patient-therapist rapport...that's all I've got to say.

Nevertheless, he said that he will give me an offer even though they still had a few call backs to interview. It was very weird because near the end he was trying to convince me of why I should accept thier job offer on Tuesday. Even if I only work there for a few months, I can put on my resume that I am 1 of only about 12 physios who will have the training to use the locomat machine. I'm thinking that it'll be great if this machine actually does become the next treatment method but useful if it doesn't. It can go either way because the machine is quite costly and I can't see hospitals affording it even though it seems very beneficial.

Regardless that was definitely an interview like no other. I never expected to learn what first impressions I gave people....very interesting...I liked them though and I do agree that of all the places that I've spoken to, I think this is the best fit for me at the moment. I'm kinda limited at the moment.

I'll keep you all posted...I could be starting work by the middle of this week....

awkwardness...

When you haven't seen your friends for awhile, you half expect it to be awkward and half not. My biggest fear was coming back and seeing friends that were close when I left but now becoming awkward.

I went to my High School's 100th reunion this past weekend. What a way to spend my first weekend back in town, go down memory lane and walking through the hallways where I absolutely loved. Most of my friends who went there still say that it was the best years of their life. It was great but I've also had so many other great years in Uni that it's too difficult to rank but High School was the most special for me.

Seeing some of my highschool friends was not awkward at all, probably because I've known them for such a long time and we've basically grew up together. It was nice to hang out and see people that I haven't see since High school, especially people who were not in my graduating year. Most of my teachers retired the year we graduated, not sure if it's because our year absolutely drained them out or because they were fed up with the whole Harris vs. teacher battle. Yes, remember the years when Harris was Premier...wow that was a long time ago...Anyways seeing the retired teachers had made my week. It made coming back when I did worth it.

Meeting up with other friends, like teammates, were a little different. The initial greeting was quite awkward. You know when you've had an argument with someone about something really stupid and both party involved regrets it but don't want to be the first to admit it?? Well it kinda felt like that but not as extreme obviously. I didn't how to act really. I almost felt like the new player on the team, almost like an intruder even though everyone was talking to me. It didn't help when the coach wanted me to make them go on a longer warm-up jog like I use to. That was not happening on my first day there. I was not about to take over anything, just wanted to blend in the first day. It was fine, for the most part, once training got started.

The adjustment continues....

For the past week I've been trying on clothes and am estactic at how well everything fits. I usually hate having to try on clothes but this was different because all the clothes were already mine. Most of the clothes I forgot that I even owned. It was like a free shopping spree, highly recommended to everyone.

So I've drove to Waterloo again yesterday and decided to go visit my old working ground, GoodLife Fitness club. The whole drive there I couldn't not remember where to get off but as I got closer, my long term memory chip kicked in. I've been amazed at how I much I've forgotten and if you asked me where something is, I couldn't tell but if I were to physically go there I probably could...Weird eh!!! It's been quite the adventure finding my way around again. It's like depending on a very rusty GPS that doesn't tell you where to go until the very last minute. There were so many occasions where I would get to an intersection and had to go the wrong direction because I had not realized which way to go until I got there and was forced to go the opposite way because I was in the wrong lane. It's like nothing I've ever experienced...Kinda cool messing with my mind this way...

I've also found myself looking around, half expecting to bump into my friends from Australia. I'll see something interesting and immediately think of someone in Australia that would like it or assume that that person would hang out there. It's almost feels like having to minds in one. One that remembers Toronto and the other one that is still in Australia and they are constantly battling to tell me where to go and what to do.

Update

It's been half a week since I've been back in Canada and I almost have everything unpacked. For anyone who has seen my room will know that it is one of the smallest bedrooms that you will encounter. I love it though. It's got a cozy feel to it.

It took me a couple of days to fit everything into my room but it's almost there. It's actually quite impressive how much stuff my room can hold. The way I see it, if my room can look organized then there's no excuse for the rest of the house.

I drove for the first time for I don't even know how long. Surprisingly it felt really natural to be driving on the right side of the road. I thought I would find it weird at first but not at all. Maybe it was because everything was on that one side so I couldn't have mistakenly turned on the windshield wipers instead of the signals. Yeah I've done that more than a few times in Australia when I rented a car.

My dad got this old car from a customer for free and he's lending it to me to drive. It runs alright and I couldn't care less what it looks like or how old it is. I drove it to Waterloo the other day and man the thing is definitely not very powerful. Every time there were a slight incline it was chugging along, trying to maintain 100km/hr. I don't even think the car is capable of
going any faster than 120km/hr. I tried overtaking a few cars and it just wouldn't go so I gave up because I looked like those idiots who drove 100km/hr on the fast lane and block all the traffic. It's alright though. As long as it gets me there in one piece, it's all good.

Does anyone know how jetlag works?? My sleeping pattern and tiredness level have been fairly good the first few days but last night I could not sleep at all. I ended up watching infomercials until 4am in the morning.

I think I've come into terms with being at home again and not working at the moment. I've applied to a bunch of jobs the other day, hoping that I'll get a better response than when I applied from Australia. I've been thinking and maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I took it easy the next few weeks. It won't kill me and everyone's allowed some time to settle in right??

I finally sent my laptop in to get checked out today. By tomorrow I will know if it is curable or not. It's been over a year since I've seen it work properly so we'll see. Once I get my hand on my own computer I will post some of my Japan photos up.

Airports

My flight back was not without any dramas. I arrived to the Japan airport and picked up my bags which had been in storage for the past week. Then I had to go through security baggage check before even being allowed to check in. The staff saw the size of my bags and decided that my bags needed inspected. It wasn't a big deal but they don't allow you to bring the push carts through so I had to carry my bags to the inspection table. Seriously now, what's the big deal of allowing people to bring in a cart??? I had two big check in bags, a carry-on and a knapsack that has my laptop inside. One of my bags does not have wheels so that made things even more interesting. The staff there did help but was barely able to even carry one of the bags. I almost felt like telling them to step aside and let me carry it. Geez...

After the inspection, I arrived at the North West Airlines counter and was told that my bags were overweight. That's not possible because I was a few kg under when I flew from Perth. "Sorry, you're only allowed 25kg each bag". What? That's not possible because I bought my flight as a package and specically asked my flight attendent to double check prior to booking my flight. He knew I was moving back home and was concerned about the baggage limit. He checked and said I was allowed 32kg, even though I was flying Quantas to Japan and NWA thereafter. Already pissed at my situation, I demanded to talk to their manager. No prevail after much discussion. Oh well, the extra cost was only $25/bag. That's still cheaper than if I had shipped stuff back. Wait till the travel agent in Perth hears about this. A big complaint letter is coming his way.

After finally checking-in, I decided to check out the duty free shops. I wanted to get some Saki. The saleperson made a few suggestions and as I was about to make my purchase she asks me if I had a connecting flight. Does that matter? Apparently it does because they won't let me bring any liquid on my next flight. How stupid is that? You buy some form of liquid from a duty free and they don't let you bring it on a connecting flight?? Geez...So no Saki purchased this time. I guess I could've put it in my checking baggage but couldn't be bothered. Plus, there were crazy security at the Detroit airport. They were like hawks waiting for their prey. When they saw the amount of baggage I had, they immediately asked to see my declaration form. There was an american inspection sticker on my baggages so clearly they did inspect it. All I cared was that they didn't do it in front of me and made me pack it all back up.

North West Airlines is definitely not the best service but it wasn't the best. The flight attendents were not very nice and they were so laxed that they barely cared what people did. During the descendent, people's seats were still reclined and kids were not seated properly or people still going to the washroom. My neighbor's bag was already brought out and placed onto the empty seat next to her. What happened to tucking all baggage overtop or under the chairs?? Slack man...slack....Going to Japan where the service is top notch has uped my expectations now

Once back in Canada, it was great. Getting through customs was a breeze. The woman was so talkative and nice. When she realized I was studying in Australia and had not returned for 2+ years, she couldn't care less how much or what I brought it.

Home sweet home???

I just got back to Toronto last night and already I am angry at my situation. It feels so weird being back in Canada. Everythings feels so similar yet so different. I almost feel like I don't belong here. Pretty bad eh? It's frustrating being here and knowing that I can't work as a physio for awhile is killing me. I've worked so hard for the past 2+ years and when I come back, it feels like I'm at the exact same situation as when I left. Obviously this is temporary but it's frustrating. There's no other word to describe it. I feel useless and like a freeloading bum who is back living at home. Maybe it's partly because I'm experiencing some culture shock at the moment. I feel lost in my own home town.

My mom thinks I should be happy that I'm back home. I know both my parents are and I'm glad that I am but still...I have to admit that I have missed my room. My bed is the most comfortable bed EVER. The house, including my room, is a complete mess right now but my mission for the next few weeks is to change that. There's so much clutter...After living with just the basics and in such simlisity that the stuff in our house seems so unnecessary. My mom does love to buy random stuff, which is fine, but she never throws anything out. I can probably throw out half the stuff in the house and she wouldn't even notice.

Stories about Japan to come....I have to download the pics first